Chromocell Announces Formal Launch of Eye Pain Treatment Program and Hiring of Dr. Simon Chandler

New Program Targets Estimated $2.5 Billion Eye Pain Market

FREEHOLD, N.J., March 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chromocell Therapeutics Corp. (“Chromocell”, or the “Company”), (NYSE American: CHRO), a pioneer in the development of non-opioid pain treatment therapeutics, today announced that it has formally launched its eye pain treatment program with the hiring of Dr. Simon Chandler.

The Company believes its sodium channel, NaV1.7 program will be suitable for an array of eye pain indications. Common acute eye pain indications include corneal foreign body damage or abrasion, acute angle closure glaucoma and post-surgical sequelae. Chronic eye pain indications include autoimmune diseases, dry eye and neuropathic etiologies. Chromocell’s platform uniquely targets the NaV1.7 channels on the cornea with the ability to treat all eye pain indications.

“The launch of our eye pain treatment program represents a significant milestone for the Company. Eye pain indications are currently under-served for treatment options, and we believe, based on the data from our programs which address various forms of systemic chronic pain using the same mechanism, that targeting NaV1.7 sodium channels in the cornea represents a viable, safe and effective treatment paradigm for eye pain,” said Frank Knuettel, CEO of Chromocell. “Moreover, the market opportunity in these under-served markets is considerable. As an example, we estimate that there are roughly 5 million corneal abrasions annually in the United States, representing an estimated market opportunity of roughly $2.5 billion.

I welcome Dr. Chandler and look forward to working with him as he guides this program towards providing much needed, effective treatment options to sufferers of eye pain in the United States and globally,” he added.

Dr. Chandler is well suited to manage the program, with over 30 years of experience in managing ophthalmic drug development programs. He has a Ph.D in Epigenetics and had a post-doctoral position at the NIH studying molecular embryology. With posts at Santen, ISTA, B&L, Allergan and Vyluma, he has successfully developed several drugs in the areas of glaucoma, and post-surgical eye pain, such as Durysta for Glaucoma and Bromday in pain and inflammation post cataract surgery.